Hans-Henning Pedersen, pipe in mouth, leaning over a large bowl spinning on the lathe.

Bornholm · since 1981

Woodsmith Hans-Henning Pedersen

Bowls and vessels turned in freshly felled wood. As the wood dries it pulls itself out of shape — and becomes something other than it was.

Statement

On the whole I think nature itself is by far the best designer.

But we human beings apparently cannot help interfering. Nor can I.

By way of apology, I try to keep as much respect for the material as I possibly can.

Hans-Henning Pedersen

Two hands holding a large golden-brown turned vessel with dark growth rings and a pierced opening.
It is the interplay with the material
that fascinates me.

The process

The lathe in the workshop with several thin-walled unfinished bowls and shavings everywhere. A hand holding a turning tool against work spinning at speed; shavings fly through the air. Close view of a knot where the bark and dark growth rings form a pierced opening.

01

The green wood

The blank comes from a freshly felled tree — preferably one that is far from perfect. Knots, splits and bark are not faults to be hidden. They are what give the form something to say.

02

The turning

The bowl is turned wet and thin, while the wood is still full of its own water. The wall has to be even the whole way round, or it will pull crooked as it dries.

03

The drying

Then the wood takes over the work. Over weeks and months it draws itself in and leaves the round form behind. Some pieces split. Others become something nobody could have drawn.

Moving pictures

Film

Two television visits to the workshop in Gudhjem. Both films open on YouTube in a new window.

Hans-Henning Pedersen, white-haired and wearing glasses, talking in his workshop.

Kulturrunden: Hans-Henning

Ø-TV BornholmIn Danish

 Title frame from the television programme: an aerial view of a long sandy beach on Bornholm with the word Bornholm across it.

Grenzenlos — Die Welt entdecken: Bornholm

German televisionSegment starts at 17:49
Hans-Henning Pedersen leaning right inside a large hollow wooden form on the lathe, working the interior.
Sometimes it almost succeeds.

1981 — 2026

Exhibitions

2020 — 2026

2026

Gudhjem Museum, EarthboundDenmark

2025

Grønbechs Gård, Hasle, TræDenmark

2022

Grønbechs Gård, HasleDenmark

2021

Galleri Rasch, RønneDenmark

2020

Gudhjem Museum, EarthboundDenmark

2020

Galerie Handwerk, Hannover, Handmade in EuropeGermany

2020

Collect, Flow Gallery, LondonEngland

2020

Hempel Glasmuseum, Craft from BornholmDenmark

Held in

  • Danish Arts Foundation
  • Rønne Municipality
  • Nordea
  • Novozymes Kunstforening
  • TV 2 Kunstforening
  • Danish Nurses' Organization
  • Kemp & Lauritzen
  • Falk Kunstforening
  • 14. August
Five round dark wooden vessels on white plinths along a gallery wall with old beams and a plank floor.
Hans-Henning Pedersen sitting on the lathe in his workshop, surrounded by tools, timber and machinery.

The workshop · Gudhjem, Bornholm

Come by.

The workshop is open by arrangement.

traesmeden@gmail.com
Grevens Dal 58DK-3760 GudhjemDenmark
+45 20 29 55 19